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EveryParampara

Kachina

A spirit being of the Hopi and Pueblo peoples, danced by masked men and carved as dolls.

A pattern drawn for this page, not a picture of Kachina.

Also: katsina

Kachinas, or katsinam, are spirit beings in the belief of the Hopi and other Pueblo peoples of the American Southwest, who bring rain, health and good harvest, living in the mountains for half the year and visiting the villages from winter to midsummer. Men dress as kachinas in masks and costumes, and dance in the plazas, with songs and drumming. Carved wooden figures, kachina dolls, are given to children by the dancers, to teach them the names and features of the spirits. The ceremonies are sacred and are held in a private way. Visitors to the pueblos are asked to follow the rules and not to take photographs.

Region: North America

See also

PowwowSmudgingMasquerade

Find traditions that mention Kachina

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